Shoe-lacing device



Aug. 4, 1925.

A. J. CHISHOLM SHOE LACING DEVICE Filed July 21, 1924 gwue'ntoz A41 Chishglm Patented Aug. 4, 1925.

UNTTED sTATEs ARCH J. CHISHOLM, O'F CENTER, COLORADO.

SHOE-LACING- DEVICE.

Application filed July 21, 1924. Serial No. 727,306.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Anon J. CHisHoLM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Center, in the county of Saguache and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Lacing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a device for lacing wearing apparel, such as shoes, boots, leggings, gloves, corsets, coats and the like, and also for securing machinery belts.

The main object of the invention is to furnish a device having securing elements for laces whereby a quicker and more secure lacing is obtained and an easier unl acing may be performed than with the ordinary lacing.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction of parts hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing showing one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of the top of a shoe, boot or legging with the lace secured by the device forming the subject matter of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a portion of the shoe top unlaced;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the lace securing element, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section along line 4'4 of Figure 1.

In the drawing, reference numeral represents the. top portion of a shoe or legging which is provided with the usual eyes 11 along the adjacent edges. Reference numeral 12 represents an ordinary l'ace which is threaded through the eyes 11 in the usual manner from the lower end up to within a certain distance of the top while two or more of the uppermost eyes are provided with securing elements 13.

Each securing element 13 consists of a piece of wire bent to form a loop 14L with an offset shank 15 at the inner end, which shank terminates in fingers 16 disposed substantially at right angles to the shank 15. These fingers are inserted in the upper eyes 11, so that said fingers engage under the leather, as best shown in Figure 4:, the shank extending through the eye 11 and the loop 1 1 projecting inwardly toward the edge 17 of. the shoe. The loop is preferably of such length that it substantially coincides with the edge 17 of the top when the shank 15 contacts with the adjacent side of the eye.

The lower part of the shoe or boot is laced in the ordinary manner as indicated at the bottom of Figure 1 but the upper ends of the lace are drawn through the loops 1 1 of the securing elements inserted in the upper eyes of the shoe. top. lVhen the lace is drawn tightly it will be gripped between the edge 17 of the top and the under sides of the loops 1 1 so that the usual bow or knot 18 may be unnecessary.

When the shoe is to be unlaced the knot 18 may be left intact or untied as desired and the upper securing element raised with the finger and withdrawn from the eyelet. This operation is repeated with the other securing elements when the lace will be loose as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, with the securing elements hanging at intervals on the lace. The edges of the shoe top may then be separated andthe. foot easily withdrawn from the shoe.

It should be noted that the securing elements are preferably inserted in the eyes along one edge of the top, this arrangement having been found most practical for tightening the lace, but it is evident that the. se-

curing elements may be furnished on both sides if so desired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. The combination with coacting members each having a series of eyelets along their opposing edges, of a lace threaded through said eyelets and a securing element for the lace comprising a loop, a shank and diverging fingers, said loop and fingers extending in opposite directions and from opposite ends of said shank, the shank and fingers of said securing element being insertable in one of the eyelets and adapted to receive the adjacent portion of the lace whereby when the lace is drawn tight it will be clamped between the loop and the free edge of the adjacent member.

2. The combination with an article of wearing apparel having a series of eyes along opposing edges thereof, of a securing element for a lace, comprising a loop, a shank and a finger, said loop and said finger extending in opposite directions and from opposite ends of said shank; said element being adapted to press a lace against an edge of the article of Wearing apparel when the lace is drawn tightly through said loop with said shank of the element engaging in one of said eyes.

3. The combination with an article of wearing apparel having a series of eyes along opposing edges thereof, of securing elements for a lace, each of said elements being formed by double bending a piece of wire, defining a loop, a shank and finger,

10 said loop and finger extending from opposite ends of said shank and in opposite directions to each other; whereby a'securing element, inserted in one of said eyes, is retained therein by said shank and finger While a lace, threaded through said loop and drawn tight, is pinched between the loop 

